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9/30/2016

You are receiving Sharing Neighborhoods as a registered subscriber. Sharing Neighborhoods is a publication of New Jersey SHARES, on the web at www.NJSHARES.org.

presidents message

Jim Jacob, President & CEO

I urge you to mark your calendars for the Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey’s (APN) annual Poverty Summit taking place on October 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Middlesex County College in Edison. The Summit gathers partners and members from around the state to learn about and strategize solutions to end poverty and this year’s theme is Solving Poverty: Working Together for Racial and Economic Justice. APN is expecting approximately 250 participants from direct service organizations, advocacy groups, faith community, government partners, academics and individuals who have experienced poverty. You can register online via this link: http://www.antipovertynetwork.org/event-2264439.

I wanted to provide a reminder that October 1st marks the official start of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federal energy assistance program, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, administered by the state and designed to help low-income families and individuals with their home heating costs. In our state, an application to LIHEAP also provides families and individuals with access to the Universal Service Fund (USF), a year-round New Jersey program that makes natural gas and electric bills more affordable for low-income households. For those who need help paying their utility bills but do not qualify for these programs, please remember that NJ SHARES extends the energy safety-net for families and individuals earning more than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty level (FPL) and less than 400 percent FPL.

I extend my thanks to the individual donors, agency partners, utility companies and corporate funders for their continued support. As winter approaches, it becomes critical that we continue to assist our neighbors in need to help them to stay warm and safe this heating season.

Regards,

Jim Jacob

What's New

LIHEAP OPENS OCTOBER FIRST

The state’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP, will begin to take applications for the 2016-2017 heating season on October 1, 2016. LIHEAP helps households under 200% of the federal poverty line with their energy and utility bills. Click here for a list of agencies where LIHEAP applications are taken or download the application here.

NJ SHARES helps households who are over income for the LIHEAP program and under 400% of the federal poverty line. Households within this income range must be experiencing a temporary financial crisis, have made good faith payments and are behind on their utility bills. Applications for NJ SHARES can be taken online or with the assistance of our partner agency network. Visit www.njshares.org for more information.

Save the Date! NJ SHARES Night with the DEVILS: Friday, January 20, 2017!

We are excited to announce that the NJ Devils will host a NJ SHARES night on January 20, 2017! We have special pricing and seating options available to NJ SHARES supporters, visit www.newjerseydevils.com/njshares17 and use Promo Code: njshares17!

NJ SHARES will be highlighted at the Prudential Center that evening via the jumbotron and the concourse. So mark your calendars for a fun family evening that will warm hearts and homes this coming winter!

NJ SHARES' Director of Development Barbara Gomes mans the NJ SHARES table at the NJECC Kick-Off and Agency Fair on September 8.

NJ SHARES Reaches Out to State Employees, Takes Part in New Jersey Employees Charitable Campaign

NJ SHARES is proud to be a participating charitable agency of the New Jersey Employees Charitable Campaign (NJECC). Since 1985, New Jersey state employees have been generously contributing to NJECC approved charitable agencies and organizations via one-time cash or check donations or by authorizing regular paycheck deductions. Participating agencies need to meet extremely strict guidelines in order to obtain approval each year.

On September 8, NJ SHARES was proud to be a part of the NJECC Kick-Off and Agency Fair at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton. During the event, charitable agencies from around the state gathered to network with and present information about their individual charities to state employees taking part in the NJECC program. Additionally, the kick-off featured a formal program and remarks from NJECC co-chairs Richard Hammer, the Commission of Transportation and Dr. Harvey Kesselman, President of Stockton University, among others. NJ SHARES hosted a table at the event, answering questions and providing information about our various assistance programs.

We appreciate the donations that we have already received from New Jersey state employees as part of this charitable giving program. Thank you to all involved for helping our neighbors throughout the state obtain the energy assistance they need.

Events

Pictured are Dawn Belamarich of New Day, Assemblywoman DiAnne C Gove, Rolanda Williams of Ocean Inc, Caitlyn Baldwin of New Day, Kimberly Warrick of NJ SHARES and Alita Corbett of Atlantic City Electric.

South Jersey Energy Assistance Day

NJ SHARES partnered with New Day Family Success Center and Atlantic City Electric to help customers who have been affected by the area’s economic crisis and record job losses, prepare for and manage their bills through flexible payment options and assistance programs.

Customers were invited to attend the September 13th Energy Assistance day, held at New Day Family Success Center 622 - 624 South New York Road in Galloway Township to learn about available resources and programs and to sign up for financial help and payment arrangements.

Pictured at the Energy Assistance Day in Little Egg Harbor are Dena Shipley NJ SHARES, Alita Corbett Atlantic City Electric, and Luisa Sala, Greg Seitz and Bill Bradshaw of New Jersey Natural Gas.

New Jersey Natural Gas Host Energy Assistance Application Days

To ready the community for the upcoming heating season, New Jersey Natural Gas hosted 18 Energy Assistance Application Days throughout their service territory in Monmouth, Morris and Ocean counties. Along with other partner agencies, NJ SHARES was on hand to take applications and provide information about our programs. The events kicked off in Union Beach on September 12th, and were held in Belmar, Freehold, Long Branch, Red Bank Asbury Park, Keansburg, Eatontown, Neptune, Lakewood, Long Beach Island, Bayville, Brick, Toms River, Jackson and Little Egg Harbor in September and will conclude with two events held in Morris Plains and Denville in October. For more information, visit New Jersey Natural Gas’ website.

Family Food Relief of New Jersey, Sun National Bank and NJ SHARES Team Up in Lakewood

The Family Food Relief of New Jersey and Sun National Bank recently hosted a Financial Literacy Education Event. NJ SHARES was onsite for the event, which took place at the Family Food Relief's bi-annual Bulk Food Sale held in Lakewood at the Blue Claws Stadium on Sunday, September 25. At the event, NJ SHARES was invited to talk to customers of the food sale about all of the programs available to struggling households.

State Hosts Job Fair for Taj Mahal Employees

The State Department of Labor hosted a Job Fair for Taj Mahal employees on Thursday, September 15 at the Cape Atlantic College City Division in Atlantic City. The event assembled more than 30 businesses and agencies to bring resources and information to more than 3,000 casino workers, including more than 1,000 Local 54 members — cooks, housekeepers, bellmen, bartenders, cocktail servers and other service workers.

NJ SHARES’ Kimberly Warrick joined our utility partner Atlantic City Electric and our community agency partners the Spruce Family Success Center, New Day Family Resource Center and OCEAN, Inc to talk with Taj Mahal employees about the NJ SHARES programs and resources that may be available to them.

The closing of the Taj Mahal Casino is the fifth casino closing since 2014 and a total of 10,000 jobs lost in Atlantic City.

NJ SHARES Exhibits at the Bergen County Senior Picnic

NJ SHARES exhibited our programs to approximately 3,000 seniors at the Annual Senior Citizens Picnic on Wednesday, September 14. Sponsored by the Bergen County Department of Human Services Division of Senior Services, the picnic was held from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Van Saun County Park in Paramus and included entertainment, a craft fair, demonstrations, information and a complimentary lunch.

NJ SHARES Exhibits at Middlesex County Senior Walk

More than 500 seniors attended the Annual Senior Health & Fitness Walk hosted by the Middlesex County Office of Aging & Disabled Services on Wednesday, September 21. The walk was held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Roosevelt Park in Edison. NJ SHARES Outreach Coordinator Dena Shipley was invited to participate in this year’s pre-walk information and screening portion of the event.

The walk was a great opportunity for NJ SHARES to reach seniors in their communities and educate them on all of the programs and services we offer.

Dena Shipley, NJ SHARES Outreach Coordinator, recently presented at the Interfaith Caregivers of Mercer County workshop on NJ SHARES programs and services for a portion of the workshop entitled Energy Assistance: “Don’t Be Left Out in the Cold.” The event was held on September 29 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Trinity Cathedral Episcopal Church, located at 801 West State Street in Trenton.

Workshop participants learned how to manage, save and receive support for energy expenses from the experts – which included representatives from Mercer County Home Energy Assistance Program, New Jersey Comfort Partners Program, Puerto Rican Action Board and NJ SHARES.

AgenCy Spotlight

Pictured are Envoy Richard Pease (left) and David Simmons (right) from The Salvation Army Trenton who met with NJ SHARES’ Dena Shipley (middle) this month to train on the NJ SHARES programs.

NJ SHARES is fortunate to partner with more than 230 agencies around the state. Each organization has a different mission and focus but all provide holistic solutions to their community. NJ SHARES welcomes the Salvation Army Trenton, located at 575 East State Street, to our network of partner agencies who take applications for NJ SHARES’ various assistance programs.

The Salvation Army has been providing social and spiritual services to communities throughout the world since 1865. Committed to serving the whole person, body, soul and spirit, with integrity and respect, The Salvation Army uses creative solutions to positively transform lives.

We are pleased to partner with the Trenton office of The Salvation Army and look forward to working together in elevating the community. Households who do not qualify for state or federal energy assistance programs can apply for the NJ SHARES’ energy program at more than 200 locations around the state or they can apply online using our public portal.

Richard and Phyllis Pease, Envoys in Charge and West Central Region Coordinators said, "Working together in strategic collaborations like the one we have with NJ SHARES, The Salvation Army is able to help those who might otherwise be forgotten. We truly believe that partnerships like this are what our community needs to maximize resources and help those in need.”

Agency ToolBox

Agency Toolbox

NJ SHARES Agency Partners will be able to log in the system on October 1st and find an updated energy training packet. The packet has been updated to reflect the most recent LIHEAP and USF program income chart updates. Agency Partners are asked to refer to the new income chart when screening applicants.

The NJ SHARES system will also be updated to automatically calculate income based on the updated information beginning October 1st. If agency staff have any questions or require training, please contact the Outreach Department at outreach@njshares.org.